Ekiti Yoruba Made EPA Helmet Mask Olomo Pupo - Mother of the ChildrenAmazing large antique Ekiti Yoruba Made EPA Helmet Mask which represents Olomo Pupo - Mother of the Children who is shown behind two wooden doors which open outward - she kneels on the first level of the two circular platforms and is surrounded by her entourage of female and male flute players, messengers, and servents who form a complex multi-figured structure. Decorated with colorful pigments and with the words 'Chief Idena' painted above the doors. This museum quality Epa masquerade piece measures 35 inches tall by 12 inches wide and weighs 17 pounds 8 ounces. Additional shipping may be required.

Terracotta 'Nsodia' Funerary Portrait Head Akan/Asante #20Greetings. I am proud to offer this antique, Terracotta 'Nsodia' Funerary Portrait Head made and used by the Akan/Asante peoples of Ghana and also by the Agni and Krinjabo people of Cote d'Ivoire. Although these terracotta sculptures which are made of baked clay are sometimes full figures, they are more often just heads. These funerary portrait pieces were the exclusive craft of the elder female artists and served as funerary portraits and memorials of passed on reletives. Before being placed as a grave marker, these heads would be used in ceremonies pertaining to the deceased. These ceremonies would often last as long as forty days or until the dead had achieved ancestral status through the rituals. Collected from Africa this piece was purchased from a forty year old collection. Great condition with wear. This specimen measures 1.50 inches long by 1.44 inches wide.

Terracotta 'Nsodia' Funerary Portrait Head Akan/Asante #21Greetings. I am proud to offer this antique, Terracotta 'Nsodia' Funerary Portrait Head set which was made and used by the Akan/Asante peoples of Ghana and also by the Agni and Krinjabo people of Cote d'Ivoire. Although these terracotta sculptures which are made of baked clay are sometimes full figures, they are more often just heads. These funerary portrait pieces were the exclusive craft of the elder female artists and served as funerary portraits and memorials of passed on reletives. Before being placed as a grave marker, these heads would be used in ceremonies pertaining to the deceased. These ceremonies would often last as long as forty days or until the dead had achieved ancestral status through the rituals. Collected from Africa this piece was purchased from a forty year old collection. Great condition with wear. This set's largest piece measures 0.86 inches long by 0.92 inches wide.

Very Old Antique African Dogon 'TARA' Hyena Mask - MaliThe Dogon People have three principal cults to support their belief system one of the most important being the Awa cult whose members dance with ornate carved and painted masks during both funeral and death anniversary ceremonies called Dama. These masks represent some of the animals that inhabit the regions where the Dogon live and hunt. They include antelopes, hares, lions, hyenas, and monkeys, there are also 'dannana' masks which represent the Dogon hunters. This antique Dogon 'TARA' Mask represents a Hyena and is extremely old showing great paint pigment and patina. This beautifully primal tribal mask has a custom made metal display stand which is included with this piece. This Hyena mask is much older then most Dama masks available today. Not including the stand this mask measures 13 inches long by 5 inches wide and 4.5 inches deep.

~ Antique Yoruba Gelede Helmet Mask, Very Old ~Very Old Antique Gelede helemt mask depicting a red faced female with plaited hairstyle which was used by the Yoruba People Of Nigeria. This specimen is very old and has surface wear especially to the inside of the mask. A very interesting split in the back of the mask shows a tribal repair.

2 Terracotta 'Nsodia' Funerary Portrait Body Pieces Akan/Asante #22Greetings. I am proud to offer this antique, Terracotta 'Nsodia' Funerary Portrait body made and used by the Akan/Asante peoples of Ghana and also by the Agni and Krinjabo people of Cote d'Ivoire. Although these terracotta sculptures which are made of baked clay are sometimes full figures, they are more often just heads. These funerary portrait pieces were the exclusive craft of the elder female artists and served as funerary portraits and memorials of passed on reletives. Before being placed as a grave marker, these heads would be used in ceremonies pertaining to the deceased. These ceremonies would often last as long as forty days or until the dead had achieved ancestral status through the rituals. Collected from Africa this piece was purchased from a forty year old collection. Great condition with wear. This specimen set's largest piece measures 1.19 inches long by 1.53 inches wide.

Antique Kuba Royal Mask M'Boom Bwoom or M'Bwoom Helmet / Mask Kuba wooden Bwoom or M'Bwoom helmet like mask which is decorated with beaded geometric designs on the back, cowrie shell hair decorations, feathers and face markings including a small copper metal face decoration and animal hair fringe. This very old, tribally danced mask measures 15" inches tall by 12" inches wide and shows much use including an amazing tribal repair to the side of the face. Intriguing!

Chokwe / Mbunda Made Antique Pwo / Pwevo Initiation Helmet Mask, Zambia Extremley rare, authentic, antique, African Pwevo or sometimes called Pwo mask carved by the Mbunda who are a Chokwe related tribal peoples. This rare, African art, carved, wooden, Pwevo mask was collected from Zambia, Africa and represents one of the most important makishi characters which is danced during the completion of the Mukanda male initiation ceremonies. This Pwevo mask measures 11.5 inches tall not including the netting or stand and 12 inches wide.

Huge Kuba Mukenga Elephant Mask - Congo, AfricaKuba Mukenga / Mukyeem mask which is decorated with beaded geometric designs, wood, raffia, and cowrie (sometimes spelled cowry) shells. This mask was collected in the Democratic Republic Of Congo and was made by the Kuba tribe. The Kuba tribe uses over twenty different types of masks. This Kuba mask is a non-royal variant of the Mwaash aMbooy type mask and is called a Mukenga mask and represents an elephant with a very emphasized beaded trunk. This Mukenga mask / head piece is part of a full body dance costume that is traditonally worn at funeral ceremonies for great Kuba men. A man of high status would perform ancient dance steps while wearing the mask. The dancer would have sighted attendants as guardians because the mask has no eye holes. This huge mask measures 30 inches tall by 22 inches wide with a 58 inch diameter.

Huge Kuba Mukenga Elephant Mask Collected Congo, Africa Kuba Mukenga / Mukyeem mask which is decorated with beaded geometric designs, wood, raffia, and cowrie (sometimes spelled cowry) shells. This mask was collected in the Democratic Republic Of Congo and was made by the Kuba tribe. The Kuba tribe uses over twenty different types of masks. This Kuba mask is a non-royal variant of the Mwaash aMbooy type mask and is called a Mukenga mask and represents an elephant with a very emphasized beaded trunk. This Mukenga mask / head piece is part of a full body dance costume that is traditonally worn at funeral ceremonies for great Kuba men. A man of high status would perform ancient dance steps while wearing the mask. The dancer would have sighted attendants as guardians because the mask has no eye holes. This huge mask measures 33 inches tall by 23 inches wide with a 62 inch diameter.

Huge Suku Tribal Circumcision Priest Kakungu MaskThis is a huge antique Kakungu mask hand carved from one piece of wood by the Suku tribal people of the Congo, Africa. These Kakungu masks were worn by the priests during circumcision ceremonies performed on young boys which took place in special circumcision camps known as Mukanda away from the rest of the village. These Kakungu masks always feature exaggerated checks and chins, round bulging foreheads, very long sharp noses, coffee bean like eyes and open mouths which show very fine sharp teeth. These very impressive masks were created to serve the purpose of frightening and inspiring obedience in the young boys, to display the power of the spirits, to show the authority of the priests and also to protect the initiation camp.

Kasai Pende Horned Munyangi Circumcision Mask, Bearded Raffia This antique African Munyangi circumcision mask was hand made by the Eastern Pende of the Kasai River Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. This authentic Kasai Pende Munyangi mask belongs to a group of masks called Ngolo each representing different characters that dance during initiation and circumcision ceremonines of young boys who are called Mukanda. These masks are to represent the strength that the boys must demonstrate during their initiation and circumcision. These Munyangi masks are attached to the sloping part of the forehead so that the dancer's eyes and nose are clear. This Pende mask is accentuated by two upward projecting horns which could also represent the blades used for the circumcision procedure. This acutal mask was featured in the book 'A Survey of Zarian Art - The Bronson Collection' written by Joseph Cornet and published in 1978. This Munyangi Circumcision Mask is pictured on page 142. 'A Survey of Zarian Art' is a Catalog of an exhibition held at multiple museums in 1978 - including the Museum of African Art. This rare example of fine tribal ceremonial African art measures 12 1/4" inches long not measuring the raffia collar like beard. This piece is 21 inches long including the raffia decoration which is 8 inches wide at the largest point.

Makonde Tribal Body Pregnant Belly Dance Mask, Southern Tanzania This is a Makonde female body mask also called a body plate which depicts a female's pregnant belly and breasts with scarification patterns and was worn along with a matching female face mask to promote fertility and was a costume which special male tribal dancers the Ndimu Masker called Amwalindembo wore and danced to represent a young pregnant woman and whose performance emphasize the difficulty of childbirth. This amazing, rare body mask measures 26.5 inches tall and 12 inches wide. This specimen is extremely beautiful and would make a fine addition to any African culture collector's treasure trove.

Old Baule Tribal Brass Face Hip Mask - Maskette Pendant #1Old brass face mask which was made by the Baule Tribal People using the Lost Wax casting method. The Baule men favored these miniature masks and would wear them around their waist as a pendant attached to the bunched cloth of the wrapper on the left hip as part of ceremonial attire and often referred to them as a hip masks.

Old Baule Tribal Brass Face Hip Mask - Maskette Pendant #2Old brass face mask which was made by the Baule Tribal People using the Lost Wax casting method. The Baule men favored these miniature masks and would wear them around their waist as a pendant attached to the bunched cloth of the wrapper on the left hip as part of ceremonial attire and often referred to them as a hip masks.